Gun control debate proves no easy answer

December 19, 2012

MARTINSBURG - Discussions on gun violence continue in light of the recent Newtown, Conn., incident in which 26 people were shot to death, 20 of whom were children.

The event hit home for many across the country, including Cole McCulloch, a father of three Berkeley County school students.

McCulloch also is the owner of Peacemaker National Training Center, a shooting sports complex in Gerrardstown. McCulloch said he was raised in a military family and served time in the Marine Corps himself. His father taught him how to shoot, but also to respect guns and what they are capable of.

"We were always taught to respect firearms, consider them loaded at all times," McCulloch said. "Understand it's permanent what happens when a firearm can be (discharged)."

While many questions regarding the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary remain unanswered, citizens are wondering what can be done to end the seeming increase in gun violence that has affected the U.S. in the last decade. Would more stringent gun laws curb violence?

McCulloch, a Second Amendment supporter, said maybe not.

"If they took all the guns in the United States away, would that make this stop tomorrow? I don't think so," he said.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) made headlines recently for his statements regarding gun control as a result of the shooting. He believes the conversation on gun violence should cover a handful of topics in order to be productive.

"We also need to address a number of critical issues, including our mental health system, safety in our schools and a media and entertainment culture that glorifies unspeakable violence," Manchin said in a statement released Tuesday.

The National Rifle Association of America released a statement early Tuesday evening expressing its grief for what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary. The organization said it was "shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news."

"The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again," the press release said.

The organization could not be reached for further comment Tuesday evening, but plans to hold a news conference Friday, Dec. 21, in Washington, D.C.

McCulloch said it was naive to discuss only firearm limitations when considering legislation to prevent the kind of mass violence that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary.

"A gun discussion and limitations on magazines or limitations on any type of gun or how many guns or whether or not you can have guns, those are the kind of things that aren't fixing this problem," McCulloch said.

West Virginia Citizens Defense League President Keith Morgan said the cause, not the tools, of such violence needed to be discussed. He, along with Manchin and McCulloch, said mental health was particularly important in this case.

"It seems to me that America is very uncomfortable talking about mental health issues," Morgan said. "I think we need to fix that."

While speculation continues, there have been no official reports regarding the mental health of Adam Lanza, who was identified as the shooter.

A plethora of solutions to gun violence have been offered since last Friday, including arming teachers. McCulloch said he was not a proponent of that idea.

"I would be more of the advocating of ... a trained police officer on duty there at all times at every school," McCulloch said.

McCulloch expressed disillusionment with the current political climate and did not express much hope that lawmakers would be able to have a reasonable discussion regarding gun control.

"We're talking about a president and a Congress that can't even agree on where to cross the street together right now," he said.

Morgan said Manchin's statements were nothing more than a political tactic.

"It is fairly common in the past 30 years to stand on the blood of children to further a political agenda," Morgan said. "It's a little bit despicable."

Morgan, president of the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, referred to Manchin as "Sen. Elmer Fudd," and said Manchin "would have us apparently defend ourselves with single-shot pea shooters or perhaps hunting bows."

The WVCDL, which describes itself as the state's largest state-level gun rights organization, will protest Manchin's comments at the senator's office in Charleston this Saturday.

Morgan said Eastern Panhandle residents can look for a WVCDL protest at Manchin's Martinsburg office to take place soon.

When asked how leaders and organizations could come together to reach viable solutions to prevent such mass violence from occurring, McCulloch said leadership would have to come into play.

"That's called personal sacrifice to a greater cause than your own political longevity," he said.

"I think that the character of the U.S. Congress and the character of the political leadership all over the nation at the federal level is bankrupt," McCulloch said. "Maybe this will be the issue that makes everybody grow up."